To Sell or Not to Sell Your Home During the Holiday Season? That is the Question.

So you’re planning a move, and here we are in the midst of the holiday season. You’re wondering whether to sell your house now or wait until after the holidays. The old way of thinking was to avoid selling a home during this busy time of year for obvious reasons. However, you may want to rethink that theory. Here are some reasons that it may benefit you to keep your house on the market through the holidays.

You’ve already spent the time decluttering, repairing, and cleaning in preparation for family to visit, so a lot of the hard work is done. Additionally, every house looks best dressed up (as long as you haven’t overdone it with huge inflatable snow globes in the yard!). Creating a warm, cozy ambiance that mimics a scene from a Hallmark card or a Thomas Kinkaid painting can lure buyers to make the purchase.

During the holidays, people are more nostalgic, emotional, and optimistic, leading to purchases not only at the local mall or Amazon but in the real estate market, as well. A seller’s goal is to help buyers picture themselves in the house. What better time to invite potential buyers to visit than when they’re focused on family? During this special season, homebuyers conjure warm memories of Christmases past and envision future family holidays in the house.

It used to be that potential buyers had to go through a tedious process: find a real estate agent, meet with the agent to communicate desires, wait for the agent to find potential houses and make appointments, and then drive around with the agent to visit recommended homes. It’s no wonder that people searching for a new home tended to shy away from getting involved in the process during the busy holiday season. Currently, the Internet allows buyers to take virtual tours of your home without setting foot outside of theirs. It’s easy enough for homebuyers to tap a few options on their phones and gain immediate access to a list of potential homes. By the time they contact an agent to schedule a tour, the buyer already has a good idea of what to expect and knows that the visit is worth their time.

At this busy time, you don’t need the hassle of dealing with “tire kickers” just casually looking at your house without real intentions of buying anytime soon. If they’re skipping out on a shopping trip or a holiday gathering, then the potential buyers are likely serious about purchasing now. Whether they’re looking to buy due to financial reasons, an increase in family size, or a job relocation, they’re out there. And with other sellers following the old-school method of not selling during the holidays, there is less inventory to compete with your house.

Another motivator for end-of-year buyers is the desire to seal the deal before New Year’s Eve to take advantage of the current year’s tax break. Home buyers can take tax deductions on mortgage interest, property taxes, points on the loan, and interest.

Of course, if you’re selling, you’re moving. If you’re looking to purchase another house, getting your home sold before the new year gives you a jump on the post-holiday market. After January 1st, the market will likely include more homes to choose from, but there may also be more buyers. Having your house sold allows you the freedom to make a non-contingent offer on your dream home and beat the competition.

If you’re willing to put up with the stress of having your house on the market during the holiday season, it may be worthwhile to tolerate the inconvenience. Motivated buyers and less competition may combine to get your house sold quickly, and closer to asking price, than post-holidays when buyers have more choices. Contact us today, and we can put you in touch with one of our trusted Realtor partners to help with the sale of your home AND the purchase of your next one.

By: Dawn Wooden

Other Related Sources:

Should I Sell My Home During the Holidays by Bill Gassett

Should I Take My Home Off the Market for the Holidays? by Kevin Vitale